Arizona Senate
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The Arizona Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members representing an equal amount of constituencies across the state, with each district having average populations of 171,021 (2000 figures). Members serve two-year terms with term limits, limiting Senators to four terms (a total of eight years). Members of the Republican Party are currently in the majority in the Senate.
As with the Arizona House of Representatives, members to the Senate are elected from the same legislative districts as House members, however one Senator represents the constituency, while for the House there are two Representatives per district. This districting system is similar to those of the Idaho and Washington State Senate.
Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.
The Senate convenes in the adjacent legislative chambers at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
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[edit] Leadership of the Senate
Arizona, along with Oregon, Maine and Wyoming, is one of the four U.S. states to have abolished the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, a position which for most upper houses of state legislatures and indeed for the U.S. Congress (with the Vice President) is the head of the legislative body.
In the Lieutenant Governor's constitutional absence, the President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. In the Senate President's absence, the President Pro Tempore presides.
The current President of the Senate is Republican Tim Bee of District 30 (Tucson/Green Valley, Arizona) who recently announced his campaign to run for Congress in Arizona's 8th District against Gabrielle Giffords. The Senate Majority Leader is Thayer Verschoor of District 22 (Gilbert, Arizona). The Senate Minority Leader is Marsha Arzberger of District 25 (Willcox).
[edit] Leadership information
Position | Name | Party | Residence | District |
---|---|---|---|---|
President of the Senate | Tim Bee | Republican | Tucson | District 30 |
President Pro Tempore | Robert Blendu | Republican | Litchfield Park | District 12 |
Majority Leader | Thayer Verschoor | Republican | Gilbert | District 22 |
Majority Whip | John Huppenthal | Republican | Chandler | District 20 |
Minority Leader | Marsha Arzberger | Democratic | Willcox | District 25 |
Assistant Minority Leader | Jorge Luis Garcia | Democratic | Tucson | District 27 |
Minority Whip | Rebeca Rios | Democratic | Apache Junction | District 23 |
[edit] Current composition
Affiliation | Members 07-08 | Members 05-06 |
|
Republican Party | 17 | 18 | |
Democratic Party | 13 | 12 | |
Total |
30 | 30 | |
Majority |
4 | 6 |
Charlene Pesquiera (D) wins 26th district from Toni Hellon (R)
[edit] Current members, 2007-2008
District | Senator | Party | Info | Senator 2005-2006 | Party | |
01 - Prescott - Coconino County | Tom O'Halleran | Republican | 1 | Ken Bennett | Republican | |
02 - Flagstaff - Navajo & Apache Cties | Albert Hale | Democratic | 2 | Albert Hale | Democratic | |
03 - Mohave County - La Paz County N. | Ron Gould | Republican | 3 | Ron Gould | Republican | |
04 - Yavapai Cty South - Maricopa Cty N. | Jack W. Harper | Republican | 4 | Jack W. Harper | Republican | |
05 - Gila County - Snowflake | Vacanta[›] | Republican | 5 | Jake Flake | Republican | |
06 - Phoenix North - Cave Creek | Pamela Gorman | Republican | 6 Site | Dean Martin | Republican | |
07 - Phoenix Nth-Nth-East - Carefree | Jim Waring | Republican | 7 | Jim Waring | Republican | |
08 - Phoenix North-East - Scottsdale | Carolyn Allen | Republican | 8 | Carolyn Allen | Republican | |
09 - Phoenix N-W. - Sun City - Peoria | Bob Burns | Republican | 9 | Bob Burns | Republican | |
10 - Phoenix North Central - Glendale | Linda Gray | Republican | 10 (M. 1997-) | Linda Gray | Republican | |
11 - Phoenix East - Paradise Valley | Barbara Leff | Republican | 11 (M. 1997-) | Barbara Leff | Republican | |
12 - Phoenix West - Litchfield Park | Robert Blendu | Republican | 12 (M. 1995-) Pres. Pro Temp. |
Robert Blendu | Republican | |
13 - Phoenix South-West - Tolleson | Richard Miranda | Democratic | 13 (M. 1999-) | Richard Miranda | Democratic | |
14 - Phoenix South Central | Debbie McCune Davis | Democratic | 14 | Bill Brotherton | Democratic | |
15 - Phoenix South-East Central | Ken Cheuvront | Democratic | 15 | Ken Cheuvront | Democratic | |
16 - Phoenix South - Guadalupe | Leah Landrum Taylor | Democratic | 16 | Linda Aguirre | Democratic | |
17 - Phoenix South-East - Tempe | Meg Burton Cahill | Democratic | 17 | Ed Ableser | Democratic | |
18 - Mesa West (Sth-East out Phoenix) | Karen Johnson | Republican | 18 | Karen Johnson | Republican | |
19 - Mesa East (Sth-East out Phoenix) | Chuck Gray | Republican | 19 | Chuck Gray | Republican | |
20 - Phoenix South - Chandler West | John Huppenthal | Republican | 20 Majority Whip | John Huppenthal | Republican | |
21 - Chandler - Queen Creek (S-E Phoen.) | Jay Tibshraeny | Republican | 21 | Jay Tibshraeny | Republican | |
22 - Gilbert - Mesa South - Gold Camp | Thayer Verschoor | Republican | 22 Majority Leader | Thayer Verschoor | Republican | |
23 - Pinal County | Rebeca Rios | Democratic | 23 Minority Whip | Rebeca Rios | Democratic | |
24 - Yuma County - La Paz Cty South | Amanda Aguirre | Democratic | 24 | Robert Cannell | Democratic | |
25 - Pima County W. - Cochise County | Marsha Arzberger | Democratic | 25 Minority Leader | Marsha Arzberger | Democratic | |
26 - Oro Valley - Catalina (Tucson North) | Charlene Pesquiera | Democratic | 26 | Toni Hellon | Republican | |
27 - Tucson West - Three Points | Jorge Luis Garcia | Democratic | 27 Ass. Min. Leader | Jorge Luis Garcia | Democratic | |
28 - Tucson North | Paula Aboud | Democratic | 28 | Paula Aboud | Democratic | |
29 - Tucson | Victor Soltero | Democratic | 29 | Victor Soltero | Democratic | |
30 - Green Valley ( Tucson Sth et East) | Tim Bee | Republican | 30 President | Tim Bee | Republican |
- ^ a: Jake Flake, senator from district 5, died June 08, 2008, leaving the seat vacant.[1] A replacement will be selected by the state governor to fill the vacancy until the next election.
List of Representatives and Senators of Arizona Legislature by Districts
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Arizona State Senate official government website
- Billhop - Arizona legislative wiki
- Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Arizona